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Friday, September 03, 2010

How to Preserve Fresh Basil (2010 Garden Update #13)

For years I've been freezing fresh basil, to use in soups, stews, and pasta sauce all winter long. Then a few years ago I started to hear about a way of preserving basil when you wanted to use it fresh, but had more than you needed right then. I don't know where I first heard that stems of basil in a cup or jar of water would stay good for days, but it may have been from Pam at Sidewalk Shoes (go see the fresh basil in water in her blog header.) Recently I cut several buckets of basil and froze some, used some to make basil pesto, and kept out a generous handful of basil stalks for a little experiment. So, just how long do you think a jar of basil will stay good on the kitchen counter if you keep adding water?

Here's the basil jar the first day, and the basil is brightly green and fragrant.

Day 3, and there is no noticeable difference in the color or smell of the basil.

After three more days go by, some leaves are barely starting to curl, and the overall plant looks just the tiniest bit wilted.

Two more days, and the leaves are a little more curled, but still fragrant and perfectly usable.

Finally, 10 entire days and although one leaf has fallen off, the basil is really essentially as good as when I put it in the jar. I filled the water about every other day, and didn't allow myself to cut any leaves off so I could compare the photos. Of course, I doubt you'd ever keep a jar of fresh basil this long without snipping off most of the leaves to add to whatever you're cooking, but I thought it was great fun to see that it lasted this long.

(Edit 9/15/2010 -It's now nearly two weeks later, and the basil is mostly still perfectly fresh and usable! Most of the stems have roots, and the basil actually seems to be growing in the water!)

Do you have a garden where you're growing basil? If so, I'd love to hear your own tricks for preserving it or what you like to make with your fresh basil.

You can see what else has been happening in my garden this year by using the label 2010 Garden Updates.

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43 comments:

Awesome information! I see those little bouquets of herbs all the time on cooking shows but I assumed they were just using them that day. That's awesome. I've ordered several herbs to start a kitchen garden. My basil and other yummies should be arriving in October. I'll remember this great tip!

I started freezing basil because of you. I got the idea from one of your posts. During the summer months, I always have a jar of fresh basil in the kitchen. One time, I had a stem in there so long it started rooting! I swear :)

What a great experiment! I'm lucky to have an herb garden right outside my kitchen door, so I can harvest just as much or as little as I need. But at the end of the season, you often have to harvest everything at once, before the first frost.

It really stays fresh for up to ten days but only if it's fresly picked before putting it in the water, or at least there are just a couple of hours passed. On the 5-6th day it even strike roots.But often when I byu basil much more time has passed from the picking up time and it fades very quickly. In these cases making pesto is my solution - it stays fresh in the fridge for 5-6 days.

Lydia, even though my herbs are just a short ways from the back door, I was surprised at how I loved having the basil on the counter. I think I'd love the convenience of just snipping off some basil to add to things and probably use a lot more basil this way.

Silvia, I hadn't thought about that, thanks for sharing that info. So this method is probably not going to help much in the winter when you have to buy basil from the store. I am wondering though if you get the last basil of the year from the garden and manage to start it growing roots, how long you could get that to last in the fall. Hmm, another experiment.

Heather, I love that idea. I wonder if I could root it plant mine inside in a month or so when it's starting to get cold here.

for some reason my husband popped a large stalk of basil in a small bud vase and put it over the sink; and yes it was fantastic how long it lasted, and how convenient it was to pull a few leaves whenever I felt like it for cooking;

I've been experimenting so much with other herbs this year (thyme and tarragon mostly) that I have neglected to use my basil but a couple of times. I knew basil would stay good in water for a couple days, but ten?? Wow! Great experiment :)

Love the day to day photos! I finally started creating kitchen counter basil bouquets last year, and it really is amazing how long they last.

You can also store other fresh herbs this way, like parsley; I wrote about it on my kitchen garden blog here.

So many sources tell you to store your herb bouquets in the fridge, but there's really no need. Basil loves the heat - and I know I'd just knock over the glass the next time I opened the fridge, LOL.

I'm a huge pesto fan, but my favorite way to enjoy fresh basil these days is tossed with pasta along with cherry tomatoes and sundried tomato artichoke pesto. The simple recipe is here and the trick is to use LOTS and LOTS of basil. I've even been eating it for breakfast. : )

If my garden is low on basil and I need to buy a bunch, I always stick it in a little jar. Also, the vendor at the farmers market told me when I got home to resnip off the ends of the stems a little and they will soak up the water better.

Glad people are finding this useful. Thanks to everyone who's giving examples of how they have used this method. If it was really hot in your house, I think putting it in the refrigerator would be a good idea, but I keep my fridge at about 40F, a little cold for basil.

I do good just to keep a few plants of basil alive. But a chef friend of mine with a newer blog just posted about basil and pesto yesterday. It's great info. http://acookinglifeblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/linguine-with-garden-fresh-basil-pesto.htmlLove the idea of keeping some in a jar of water!

I need to go find your post about freezing basil, do you not have to make it into pesto first?

I have my Basil growing in a small washtub. When I planted it I just sprinkled the seeds, covered and watered them. I have a tub full of plants and I've harvested several times. I was wondering if I brought the tub inside would it continue to produce? It would be in an upstairs south window. Does a plant have a certain lifespan or will it continue to produce given the right conditions?I appreciate any and all comments. ThanksBeth

Beth, I grow my basil from seed too. I don't know how long the growing season is for basil to keep producing, but I know it's an annual plant, so it won't produce indefinitely. I'm guessing you might be able to extend the season for a month or so, but not much longer than that. Let us know what happens if you try it.

Oh wow! I had been freezing my basil without putting oil on it and was wondering why people bothered when it always went dark!!! Now from this entry I can both keep basil on the counter && freeze it! Thanks for linking to that entry, I'm so excited not to lose any more of my pretty little leaves!

I cut basil stems just recently and put them in a jar on the window. I found that after a week or so the leaves started drying up and shriveling. So I finally made pesto today. After making about two cups of pesto from basil leaves only, I then proceeded to make a secondary pesto from the stems and whatever-basil-leftovers which had not gone bad. I didn't have the heart to throw them out... If not as smooth, it is just as good and aromatic as the pesto made from basil leaves, so my advice to you is : don't waste it!

Hi Kalyn -- I tried your wonderful idea, and mine are on the windowsill now. I also took it a step further. I had simply yanked out my entire plants (no special gentleness.) After removing the lager leaves to dry and putting some higher stems into a vase, I trimmed the bottom part of 6 plants and potted them. Meanwhile they're fine, and I think they should continue to be fine, unless it gets too cold on the sill. You can see them all here: http://www.photoblog.com/chossid/2010/10/06/birds-bells-and-basil.html

To anonymous, with a tub of basil -- go for it! To keep it producing, keep any flower heads trimmed off!

Leah, fun to see how you're making the most of your basil. I haven't tried drying it. Is the flavor really better than the dried basil you buy?

I'd be curious to hear back about how much longer the transplanted basil will grow inside, because I know it's an annual so it won't keep producing indefinitely. But if you got basil for a few more months that would be great!

This works with Rosemary too! I was so surprised to see roots form on some I put into a little bud vase. It lasted for weeks, until I let the water level get too low and forgot to refill. Will be using this method next growing season!!!

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